Scripts

1. History of Scripts

The evolution of script and the different styles used by scribes
across the medieval period, both in the British Isles and on the
continent, is frequently divided (and subdivided) into
chronological sections that often, but by no means always,
reflect relevant social and political changes. For instance, the
impact of the Norman Conquest in English scriptoria was obvious
when after a few decades Anglo-Saxon minuscule had almost
vanished. Even so, one needs to be careful not to overstate the
role that socio-political events played in the history of script.
Instead, the evolution of styles reflects much more closely the
history of writing, its nature, its purpose and its social
penetration, that is to say, the number of individuals capable of
writing at any given moment. Thus, it should not be surprising to
find that, after the art of writing breaks away from the monastic
walls to reach a wider section of the population from the twelfth
century, it becomes ever more difficult to read and identify
particular scripts. Writing becomes an individual tool and
therefore bound to reflect the needs of each particular
individual or the social group to which they belong.

The nomenclature used to describe each of these ‘phases of
development’ has often been a cause of disagreement among
scholars. In spite of this, some degree of standardisation has
been sought here, although in the instances where this is not
fully possible commentary and guidance will be provided.

For an overview of script evolution in the central Middle Ages,
see this clip with Dr Erik Kwakkel (Leiden University).